Shoe shank stiffener



June 7, 1932- s. FERRAGAMO sHoE SHANK STIFFENEH Filed May 9, 1930 scdva rorg Ferragam INVENTOR 6am Attorney.

Patented June 7, 1932 Y UNITED STATES SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, OF FLORENCE, ITALY SHOE smmx STIFFENER Application filed May 9, 1930, Serial No. 450,919, and. in Italy July 9, 1929.

The invention relates to a stifi'ener for strengthening the soles of boots and shoes, capable of imparting a rigid connection and considerable durability thereto; the stiffener 6 being especially applicable to the reinforcement of the instep-supporting arch of the soles of ladies shoes, so that said sole shall constitute even in the rising arched part thereof, which does not touch the ground in walking, a supporting plane for the foot. Thus, the foot of the wearer of a shoe reinforced according to the present invention is properly supported between the toe and the plane of the sole, arch and heel. The need of a similar reinforcement is especially felt in ladies light shoes where the pronouncedly high heels do not allow of the due support of the foot when the arch of the sole is not sufficiently rigid while the need of an adequate connection between the heel and the sole is further felt, owing to the thinness of the soles in ladies shoes.

Essentially the invention resides in a metalplateor plate of any other suitable material-which has been doubled over, suitably arched or curved, and which is fitted into the thickness of a piece of leather forming a reinforcement for the sole; the metal portion remains fixed within the strip of leather by Virtue of small spikes provided for instance, two on either side of the piece of metal; which spikes after theyhave penetrated into the leather are clinched there.

The reinforcement composed of a strip of leather with a metal portion is located inside the sole properly so-called at the pointwhere the latter forms an arch.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows a form of such invention.

In this drawing Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a reinforcement for soles, provided with the metal part of my invention;

Fig. 2 shows the structure in plan;

Fig. 3 is a section on line AB of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows the metallic reinforcing part in its various views and sections, separately.

The reinforcement consists in a. metal plate asuitably arched and having its longitudinal edges bc raised in order to impart greater solidity to the plate. Each of the two flattened ends --0Z-e is provided with two spikes ff turned upward, i. e. towards the convex part. Said reinforcement is laid upon a suitably shaped strip of leather, having a longitudinal cut g on the underside of said strip; inside said cut the leather whereof the strip is composed is cut away sufficiently to permit the reinforcing part -a to pass through the opening, while remaining confined within the thickness of the strip of leather.

After the part has been introduced through the opening and into the pocket which is formed by cutting away a part of the inside of the leather strip, the spikes -ff are driven into the leather, until'they emerge from the latter and are clinched. The cut in the leather is conveniently made on the underside, because thus, owing to the pressure of the foot, the encased piece of metalwhich tends constantly to right itselfis perfectly equal to the strain.

The two pared-down edges of the leather, that is, the two lips of the pocket made for the fitting of the part a into the leather, are then beaten down upon the reinforcement itself in such manner that the thickness of the leather will remain quite uniform even at the part where the reinforcement is encased.

It will be manifest that the metallic reinforcement strengthens the strip of leather intended to be laid upon the sole at the point where the latter is arched or curved, inasmuch as it is a metal part which is added when incorporated with a strip of leather fitted to the sole. Moreover the structure of the piece of metal ensures a reinforcement bridging the space between the heel and the sole of the foot, which affords a good support for the latter at the arch, and constitutes a good connection between that part of the sole which forms the fiat under side and the part which covers the heel, while representing an exceptional combination of parts which also confers solidity on the finished boot or shoe, as a whole.

It is understood that the drawing constitutes but a schematic form of example, given solely as a practical showing of the invention, it being possible for the invention to vary as regards its forms and arrangements without however departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A reenforced arch for footwear, comprising a leather layer provided with an 1nternal cavity, the outer walls of which are tapered towards the center line on one face of the layer, said center line coinciding with a slit to provide access into the cavity, and an arched rigid reenforcing member entirely encased in said cavity and comprising a strip of metal angular in transverse section to rest on the tapered sides of the cavity and being fiat at the ends with upturned teeth p enetrating and clinchin the leather layer.

2. A reenforced arch, as claimed in claim 1, in which the sides of the angular reenforcing member are tapered downwardly from the mid portion towards both ends to meet the flat portions, substantially as described.

3. A shoe shank having a longitudinal slit therein, an arch supporting bar and said shank having channels conforming to said bar extending laterally from said slit into the interior of the material thereof at both sides of the slit for the insertion, retention, and concealment of said bar within the interior of the shank.

4:- A shoe shank comprising a single piece of material having a slit therein, an arch supporting bar, and said shank having a pocket conforming to the configuration of sald bar extending from sald slit into the intenor of the material thereof for the insertion, retention, and concealment of said bar- Within the shank.

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO. 

